Leave UFT and You Get Nothing!

So the Janus ruling is in (Read the ruling in it's entirety here). I'm going to continue to pay my dues and pay them proudly.

Yes, there are plenty of things I can list and discuss about how I don't feel the UFT has been there for me or for many. I have major disagreements. But, I believe in unionism, I believe in the members of the union, and I believe that only it's members can affect change.

I empathize with those who wish to withhold dues now that Janus is in. These people have every right to feel left out and angry. But cutting your nose off to spite your face is not the way to go about it.

The way to fix the union is to be more involved. To speak up more in meetings, to speak up more to the leaders, to have more knowledge of what goes on about you. We are only as strong as our weakest link. To those who wish to stop paying dues, you will damage those who remain members of the UFT. As with parental leave does not benefit all members, those that will not ever benefit from it are accepting of it for it will benefit other members of the rank and file. The time to stick together is more important now than ever.

Having said that, what will one lose if you leave the UFT? The UFT was good enough to publish what will happen on it's website today.

No Free Legal Services

There you go. Get called into SCI or OSI. You get nada. Bupkus. No lawyer, no UFT rep. You are on your own. Same goes with if you are called into a discipline meeting with the principal. You are left to your own devices. Good luck!

Free counseling

Free or discounted training or professional development

An attorney during 3020-a employee discipline procedures

There you go. Yes, NYSUT lawyers can be hit or miss but I believe that if you are not proactive in your defense whether or not you use NYSUT or private attorney you are destined to be screwed. Go out and spend unless you hire Jordan Harlow your are looking at spending $10-15k for your 3020-a.  

Member discounts through the UFT, NYSUT and AFT

Who gives a shit? Discounts for the Brooklyn Nets? Big deal.

And you will not be able to participate in union elections, contract ratification votes or votes about school-based options.

There you go. You are a nothing. Zero. A ghost. Want to be part of change you can't and should not. 

In my opinion, anyone that opts out (And I have mentioned this before) should get nothing. No rights to the pay scale, no health benefits, a big fat nothing. Negotiate as an individual for your own salary, hours, time off, health benefits, working conditions, lunch, prep, everything! Better, each Chapter Leader should hand out a list of who has paid in and out and distribute the list hang on UFT bulletin board in each and every school.

Those who benefit from what I and others who are members are nothing but moochers and freeloaders and worse, rats.

Yes, you do have a right to be angry at the UFT, but now is the time to grow a set, roll up your sleeves and stop making excuses at sitting around and not being active in the UFT.